Great ways to make your property look good in the hottest weather.
No doubt you’ve seen that some parts of the United States recently endured record heat waves. Even northern cities like Portland, Ore. suffered a string of days above 100 degrees, finally reaching an all-time high of 116 degrees – in June. In many places, such as California, drought is also a major concern, and any water at all is at a premium.
For homeowners in these areas and others, such as the Southwest, a standard garden that might work in the Midwest is likely to wilt. But if they consider the benefits of drought-tolerant plants and zeroscaping (landscaping while using little water) or xeriscaping (similar to zeroscaping but with more plants involved) they can improve the look of their gardens without blowing up their water budget.
Here are the 10 best drought-tolerant plants, along with zeroscaping and xeriscaping options to consider to add color to your parched property.
Now that you’ve seen what plants are great choices for your drought-resistant garden, let’s learn about the benefits of zeroscaping and xeriscaping your yard.
Zeroscaping is one of the easiest ways to maintain a yard during a drought. There is no need to water grass or to mow your lawn and, for areas with tight water restrictions, it’s hard to think of a better option. In fact, there’s hardly anything you need to do once you set up your yard using zeroscaping.
With zeroscaping, a handful of plants that are native to your region are preferred. Cacti are often a popular choice. Once these are placed in the soil, rocks and gravel can be distributed around them. These minerals will take up most of the space, as the plants are secondary.
Xeriscaping is slightly different. It features a much more organized design of your yard to make it appealing. There are more plants involved. Mulch might be added. But like zeroscaping, it’s incredibly easy to maintain once it’s set up.
Even in severe climates, there are ways to make your property look attractive with drought-resistant plants or by xeriscaping or zeroscaping your yard. Despite scorching temperatures, you can easily add curb appeal to your home.
Looking for a home? We can help you. Check out our types of loans here.
For homeowners in these areas and others, such as the Southwest, a standard garden that might work in the Midwest is likely to wilt. But if they consider the benefits of drought-tolerant plants and zeroscaping (landscaping while using little water) or xeriscaping (similar to zeroscaping but with more plants involved) they can improve the look of their gardens without blowing up their water budget.
Here are the 10 best drought-tolerant plants, along with zeroscaping and xeriscaping options to consider to add color to your parched property.
Catmint
Bedecked with a gorgeous flower hues ranging from purple to pink to white, Catmint will draw bees and butterflies because of its smell. It is easy to grow without much care from you, and rabbits and deer rarely bother it. Catmint thrives with full access to the sun. Blossoming in the early summer, it can reach both heights and widths of three to four feet.Russian Sage
Even the name feels exotic, and its lavender flowers will definitely captivate visitors to your garden. Like Catmint, it flourishes in a sunny space. Beyond drought, it also has no problem with cold weather (makes sense for a plant named after Russia), so freezing desert nights are no issue. Once it is settled in the ground, Russian Sage is not thirsty and needs little attention of any sort beyond intermittent pruning. The aromatic plant is said to have health benefits, including helping to mitigate a cold.Artemesia
Like its drought-tolerant partners above, Artemisa needs a minimal amount of water. Its leaves are small, yet at least one of its hundreds of species can grow to about six feet tall. Named after the Greek goddess of the moon (Artemis), the plant is marked by a powerful aroma and is believed to have medicinal qualities.Artichoke
You know the best part of this drought-tolerant plant – you can eat it! But as you also likely know, watch out when you tend to it; there are spines that can hurt you. Little water is needed to keep the artichoke healthy, but a lot of sunlight in the area along with excellent drainage are big boosts to its successful growth. Rather than planting seeds, which are hit and miss, try buying roots and placing those in the soil instead.Yarrow
There are a number of varieties to choose from, all of which offer striking flowers, including yellow and pink. This perennial resists pests while inviting butterflies. Make sure your soil is well-drained before planting. At their maximum, Yarrows can grow to about four feet tall.Veronica
If you’re entranced by the color purple, Veronicas are for you. And even better, they’re not for deer and rabbits, who have no interest in the plant. They usually grow wide but not tall, perhaps two feet at the maximum. They don’t like wet conditions, making them an ideal addition to your drought-tolerant garden.Vinca
Well-draining soil is really all that’s needed to keep this perennial happy. Gardeners don’t need to do much with vinca, which is often visited by butterflies but, fortunately, not by deer. The colors of this plant, which originally grew in Madagascar, run the gamut and include magenta and pink. Vinca doesn’t grow tall, but it can spread wide.Beardtongue
If you can get past somewhat disturbing name, this plant can be a mainstay in your drought-tolerant garden. No matter where you live in the United States, from desert to mountain, Beardtongue plants can adapt to the conditions. They require little care and draw hummingbirds to their tall stalks. Petals appear in a variety of vivid colors.California Poppy
These perennials aren’t just for inhabitants of the Golden State (even though it is the state flower). They don’t even require good soil or watering – just exposure to the full sun. California Poppies don’t grow to epic heights (only 18 inches at their peak), but their vibrant golden color is a delight.Aloe
These succulents love a dry climate. Aloes need the full sun to beat down on them and require minimal watering. There are hundreds of species to choose from, many with green leaves. As you may know, Aloe plants possess vitamins that can be helpful for your skin.Now that you’ve seen what plants are great choices for your drought-resistant garden, let’s learn about the benefits of zeroscaping and xeriscaping your yard.
Zeroscaping is one of the easiest ways to maintain a yard during a drought. There is no need to water grass or to mow your lawn and, for areas with tight water restrictions, it’s hard to think of a better option. In fact, there’s hardly anything you need to do once you set up your yard using zeroscaping.
With zeroscaping, a handful of plants that are native to your region are preferred. Cacti are often a popular choice. Once these are placed in the soil, rocks and gravel can be distributed around them. These minerals will take up most of the space, as the plants are secondary.
Xeriscaping is slightly different. It features a much more organized design of your yard to make it appealing. There are more plants involved. Mulch might be added. But like zeroscaping, it’s incredibly easy to maintain once it’s set up.
Even in severe climates, there are ways to make your property look attractive with drought-resistant plants or by xeriscaping or zeroscaping your yard. Despite scorching temperatures, you can easily add curb appeal to your home.
Looking for a home? We can help you. Check out our types of loans here.